Automatic packer mechanism for cotton-presses.



J. P. SMITH.

AUTOMATIC PAGKBR MECHANISM FOR COTTON PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1912. o'mpgg Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

TIE- l l're/erc for COLUMBIA PLANOURAI'H CO-IWASHINOTON. D. c.

J. P. SMITH.

AUTOMATIC PAGKER MECHANISM FOR COTTON PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1912.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. F. SMITH. AUTOMATIC PACKER MECHANISM FOR COTTON PRBSSES.

APYLIOATION FILED NOV. 22, 1912.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Fig

,Zi'zvez'zior JaZzn e5 1'. Sinai/a nivrrnn s'ra rns ra'rsnr @FFlClil JAMES FRANKLIN SMITH, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

AUTOMATIC PACKER MECHANISM FOR COTTON-PRESSES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Janos F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charlotte, in the county of Mccklenburg and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful llnmrovemcnts in Automatic Packer llieehanism for Cotton-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton trampers for use in connection with cotton presses or boxes, and the primary object of the same is to provide adevice of this class which will automatically operate to paclc cotton in a press or box by a simple manipulation and without requiring the usual manual attention and supervision of such devices.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a cotton tramper mechanism embodying the features of the invention and showing the same in operation relatively to a portion of a box which is illustrated in section, the l31t111']])61' being shown in a rising position with the platen in the box in full lines and in dotted lines as fully elevated in normal position. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section tln-ough the tramper mechanism showing the parts thereof broken away. Fig. 3 a transverse vertical section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1. Fig. l is a longitudinal vertical section taken in the plane of the line -.l:l-, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken in the plane of the line 5-5, Fig. 4t. Fig; (3 is a transverse vertical section taken through the winding drum in the plane of the line t3 0, Fig. l, and showing in addition a part of the frame of the tramper.

The numeral 5 designates a supporting frame comprising lower and upper sills (l and 7 connected by inclined braces 8, the upper sills being in closer relation than the lower sills and having bolted thereto a plurality of frame members 9 and 10 which rest on the upper portions of the sills 7, and rising from the said latter sills outside of the frame members 9 and 10 a supporting frame or superstructure 11 inch'uling base pieces 12 and an upper horizontally disposed guide member 13 formed with an opening 14 therethrough for a purpose which will be presently explained. Across Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 22, 1912.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

Serial No. 732,987.

the under or bottom portions of the sills 7 are tie members 15, 16, 17 and 18 which strengthen the frame as a whole, and be tween the tie members 10 and 17 is a guide member or strip lllalso having an opening 20 therethrough in vertical alinement with the opening 11- in the guide member 13. A tramper stem or upright 21 is mounted to freely move through the openings 11: and 20 in the guides 13 and 1.) and has on the lower end thereof a suitable tramper or packer head 22 of such dimensions as to be freely movable in the ordinary form of press box 23, as shown by Fig. 1. At an intermediate point the stem or upright .31 is pro vided with a ratchet plate 23 with which a locking bolt or latch 2i is adapted to cooperate, said locking bolt or latch being mounted in a supporting guide 25 secured on the upper side of the guide member 13. The locking bolt or latch 2-1; is engaged by a spring 26 which tends to normally project the said bolt or latch rearwardly into engagement with the ratchet plate 23, and to the front or outer end of the latter a pullcord or analogous device 27 is attached and passes downwardly over a guide pulley 28 secured on the front end of the guide member 13 and attached to the head of a cam or eccentric 25) having a depending handle :30 and fulcrunu'al as at ill on a projtaztion or bracket 32 also secured to the guide member 13 below the pulley 2S. 13y pressing downwardly on the cam or eccentric 20 through the medium of the handle 30 the be] t or latch 2-4: will be drawn zmtwardly to release the same from the ratchet: plate 23, and when the ram or eccentric 29 is relieved of do\\'nward pressure and is elevated, the spring so marit'orms its function and projetds the bolt or latch 21: inwardly in position for engagement by the teeth of the ratchet plate 22-5 so that when the stem or upright 21. rises it will be automatically locked in normal elevated position as soon as the ratchet plate 2; arrives opposite the engaging end of the bolt or latch Q-l.

The base members 12 of the superstructure 11 extend rearwardly far enough to give a stable support to the mechanism disposed thereon and also to render the entire superstructure su'llicicntly rigid to reliably guide and hold the platen or packer head 22 and stem 21, inclined braces 35} extending between the rear ends of the base members 12 and uprights 34 of the said superstructure 11. The members 9 and 10 also support the mechanism and the member 10 particularly is projected over the rear sill 7. Mounted in suitable bearings on the one base member 12 and the adjacent member 10 is a shaft 34 having on the outer end thereof a band wheel or pulley 35 engaged by a belt 36 running to a suitable power medium or line shaft,and on the shaft 34% is keyed a pinion 37 which is held in continual mesh with a spur gear 38 of a counter-shaft 39 mounted in suitable bearings on the member 10 and the opposite base member 12, as shown by Fig. 1. On this counter-shaft the direct operating mechanism for elevating the stem 21 and platen or packer head 22-is mounted and consists of a drum 4O loose on the shaft 39 and engaged by a strap belt 41 attached at its lower end to one side of the stem or upright 21 in the manner clearly shown by Fig. 2, the lower end of the belt or strap 41 extending through an opening 42 in the stem or upright 21 and terminally secured also to a portion of the platen or packer head 22 to insure a positive retention of the belt or strap 41 and prevent the same from being easily broken by the weight strain imposed thereon in the elevation of the stem and platen or packer head. The drum is partially inelosed by a curved shell 43 of the form shown in dotted and full lines by Fig. 2, said shell acting as a guide for the belt or strap 41 and holding the latter up close to the drum. i1 direction pulley 44 is mounted on the rear sill 7 and thereover the belt or strap 41 has movement, and by this means said strap or belt is properly guided to bring the same in close relation to the stem or upright 21 and also to materially reduce frictional wear and strain on the belt or strap by preventing contact thereof with the one wall of the opening 20 and the adja-l cent corner efthe rear sill 7. Projecting from the drum 40 and forming a part thereof is a clutch shell or member 45 which ineludes a frictional brake 46 provided by forming a groove 47 in the periphery of a portion of the said shell to receive a brake rope or cable 48 attached at one end to the upper portion of the rear sill 7 and on the other end having an attached weight 49.

The clutch member 45 is constructed with a central circular recess 50 which opens out through the end of the said clutch member or shell, and near the outlet 51 of this recess a counter-recess 52 is formed in the member or shell and opens into or communicates with the said recess 50. The drum 40 with its clutch member or shell 45 is held against longitudinal movement on the shaft 39 by a set collar 53 engaging the outer end of the drum 40 and also by a set collar 54 located in the recess 50 adjacent to the inner termi nal wall of the latter. In the counter-recess 52 a plurality of dogs 55 is mounted at intervals on pivot or fulcrum pins 56 and are of the form particularly shown by Fig. 5. The pivot or fulcrum pins 56 extend eecentrically through the dogs 55, or each pin engages its corresponding dog nearer one end than the other of said dog so that the greater portion of'each dog is free or unattached for gravitating movement, and projecting from the lower edge of each dog nearer the unattached end thereofis a lug or tooth 57. Each dog also has an upper convex edge 58, and be yond the fulcrum point thereof an adjusting screw 59 bears on the'outer convex edge and is maintained in adjusted position by a set nut 60, the adjusting screws 59 and set nuts 60 operating to hold the teeth 57 of the dogs always in proper position for engagement with a coiiperating element which will be presently explained.

The shaft 39 is provided with a feather or spline 61 slidably engaged by a clutch sleeve 62 whereby motion of the shaft is imparted to said sleeve or the sleeve is caused to rotate with the shaft. clutch sleeve 62 a toothed head 63 is formed to engage the teeth 57 of the dogs 55, the said toothed head having teeth 64 correspending in number to the teeth and number of the dogs. The teeth 57 and 64 are so constructed that when the drum 40 and clutch member 45 rotate in one direction there will be a clearance of the teeth relatively'to each other, and when rotating in the opposite direction the teeth will interlock andthe clutch member 45 and drum 40 will be caused to rotate with the clutch sleeve 62 and shaft 39. In other words, if the shaft 39 and clutch sleeve 62 rotate in the direction of the arrow shownby Fig. 5, there will be an interlock between the teeth 64 and 57 and the drum 40 and clutch member45 will rotate with the shaft and clutch sleeve, such direction of On the inner end of the movement being efiected when the stem or' upright 21 and the platen or packer head 22 are elevated. When the drum 40 and clutch member 45 rotate in the opposite direction during the automatic descent of the stem or upright 21 and the platen or packer head 22, the teeth 57 of the dogs 55 will ride over the teeth 64, the dogs 55 under the latter conditions being elevated to give the necessary clearance and which is permitted by the eccentric engagement with the dogs of the fulto normal elevated position and when the said stem and platen or packer head have been released for downward gravitaling movement, and this shifting operation of the clutch sleeve (32 is automatically accomplished through the medium of a lever (35 attached at its upper end to a rock shaft 66 mounted on the frame member 5) and provided with upwardly projecting arms 67, as shown by Fig. 3, the said latter arms having rollers (38 at their upper ends on gaging a grooved head (it) of the sleeve (32. The lower end of the lever (35 has a trip or operating leg 70 pivotally connected thereto and comprising an upper elongated tubular head 71 with slots 72 formed therein and a rod 73 having a cross pin 7 st workii'ig in said slot 72 and engaged by a cashion spring 7 5 extending upwardly into the tubular head 71 to relieve the leg and the lever as well as the clutch sleeve 62 of shock or jar, and to hold the clutch sleeve out of the clutch member 45 long enough for the latter to attain sullicicnt velocity to keep the dogs 55 from falling into the clutch sleeve until the spring 75 has expanded when the platen or packer head 22 strikes against the lower end of a depending striking member 76 attached to the lower end of the rod 7%. This trip mechanism, including the lever 65, by its weight has a gravitating movement when the platen or packer head 22 moves downwardly and the weight of this mechanism which automatically controls the shifting movement of the sleeve (32 is sullieient to overcome any resistance that may be set up by the leeve to shitting movement when the said mechanism is released to have a grz'ivitating operation. lVhen the platen or packer head 22 ascends to a certain height it engages the striker member 76 and pushes upwardly on the rod 73 and thereby compresses the spring 75,such compression continuing until the platen or packer head shall have reached its normal elevated position, and at which time the lever 65 will have been raised and the clutch sleeve ()2 thrown outwardly or disengaged from the clutch member 4-5 through the medium of the arms 67 on the shaft 66. When the platen or packer head 22 shall have reached its normal elevation, the latch bolt 2 L will have engaged the ratchet plate 23, thereby hoding the platen or packer head and its stem in fixed elevated position until released.

From the foregoing the operation of the machine will be readily understood. Cotton will be fed into the box 23 by any suitable means and at intervals the latch bolt 21 will be withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet plate 23 and thereby release the platen or packer head 22 and stem 21, and the weight of the latter will he suitlicient to cause the same to gravitate or fall and press the cotton within the box, and during the downward movement of the stem 21 the strap or belt ll will be unwound from the drum 41.0 and follow closely down adjacent to one side ol the said stem 21, and as the packer member together with the leg as a whole and lever (35 start to move downwardly, the sleeve 62 will be gradually drawn inwardly toward the clutch member -15 and after a clearance of the striker member 70 by the platen or packer head 22, sleeve (32 will be thrown :tully inwardly and an engagement oil the teeth 5'7 of the dogs of) with the teeth (i l; of the head (53 on the inner end of the sleeve (52 will ensue, such engagement ojt' these teeth taking place just about the time that the platen or packer head and Stem 21 have descended fully into the box 23 or to such distance within the latte as the cotton packed therein will permit, and instantly the platen or packer head 22 and stem 21 will be elevated by reason of the fact that the drum 10 through the clutch member 15 is connected up to the shaft 39 by the sleeve (32 and the strap or belt 41-1 will be wound upon the drum 1-0 and automatically elevate the platen or packer head 22 and the stem 21 until the platen or packer head has reached its norn'ial elevation and the clutch sleeve, (32 has been thrown out of engagement with the clutch member -15 as hereinbeiore explained. Tt will be understood that the shaft 231- continues to rotate and is only ellective with relation to the drum 40 to cause the latter to wind the strap or belt 4-1 thereon at the times that it is desired to elevate the platen or packer head 22 and the stem 21.

The improved device will he found eX- ceplionally advantageous in its operation, particularly in view of the fact that after it is once set in motion, or after the shaft Sal? has started to operate, no attention is 1lLCGSSfl1 as to manual control 01 the parts except the release of the latch bolt 21 at intervals from the ratchet plate 23 and the time between the downward and upward strokes of the platen or packer head 22 and the stem 21 may be readily controlled in z'iccordance with the condition of the cotton by the manual operation oil. the latch 24. The rope or cable 18 with the attached weight 4-9 and engaging the groove 4-7 of the clutch member lo ope ates to lessen the revolution of the drum after the tramper mechanism is stopped by the frictional engagement ot the rope or cable within the groove and which is practically constant owing to the weight 49.

Changes in the proportions and dimensions of the several parts as well as in the minor details may be adopted to accommodate various condition without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the speed of movement of the parts may be controlled by changing the pinion 37 and spur gear 38, it being noted that the spur gear 38 will necessarily run slower than the pinion 37 and give the proper timed action or movement to the platen or packer head 22 and stem 21 during the elevation of the latter parts.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of a packer head having a stem rising therefrom, and mechanism operating with the stem to permit the latter and packer head to have a gravitating falling movement and to positively elevate the same to normal position and including a drum having a strap in winding relation thereto and connected to the stem and a continuously moving shaft operatively associated with the said drum, the latter automatically operating to elevate the packer head and stem.

2. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of a packer head having a stem rising therefrom, mechanism for permitting the packer head and stem to have a gravitating movement and for elevating the same to a normal position and including a drum havin a straa in. winding relation thereto and connected to the stem and a continuously moving shaft operatively associated with the said drum, the latter automatically operating to elevate the packer head and stem, and means for locking the stem and packer head at intervals in normal elevated position.

3. In a device of the class set forth, an automatically operating packer head and stem, and mechanism cooperating with the packer and stem for releasing and permitting a gravitation of and also for elevating the packer head and stem and including a drum and a strap in winding relation to the drum, the strap being attached to the stem.

4. In a device of the class set forth, an automatically operating packer head and stem having a drum with a strap in winding relation thereto and connected to the stem, and mechanism cooperating with the drum Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents 'to rotate the latter at intervals to wind the strap thereon.

5. In a device of the class set forth, a gravitating packer head and stem, and automatically operating mechanism for elevating -;the said packer head and stem including a drum having a strap adapted to wind thereon and attached to the stem and a shaft with an automatically operating clutch mechanism.

6. In a device of the class set forth, the

combination of a packer head and stem, a shaft having a drum with a clutch member loose thereon, a strap connected to the stem and movable over the drum, a clutch sleeve on the shaft automatically shiftable into and out of engagement with the clutch mem-- ber of the drum, a yielding trip mechanism cooperating with the clutch sleeve and actuated by contact with the packer head to,

continuously rotating shaft loosely carrying a drum having a clutch member with a brake means to check the descending movement of the packer head and stem, a clutch sleeve keyed to the shaft and shiftable i'nto and out of the said clutch member, the clutch sleeve and member having engaging means to set up a positive rotation of the said member and drum with the sleeve and shaft, and yielding trip devices operated by contact with the packerhead to set and permit release of the clutch sleeve relatively to v the clutch member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES FRANKLIN SMITH. Witnesses:

J. D. Mo-CALL,

J. S. YANDLE.

Washington, D. C. 

